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Gay Marriage: Will The Supreme Court Finally Weigh In?

The constitutionality of gay marriage remains up in the air...but not for long.

Could same sexcouples finally have an answer on the question of whether gay marriage is constitutional? The courts and the nation have remained split on the issue, effectively leaving the issue of marriage legality for same-sex couples up in the air — until now.

The Supreme Court is currently mulling over which action to take on several pending appeals that address the issue of gay marriage. The Court's decision on whether to hear any of the 10 cases presently before it could come as early as Friday, the last scheduled meeting prior to the Court's holiday recess.

The Supreme Court Justices meet weekly to decide which cases to hear and add to the calendar term. There are nine justices, and four votes are needed to add a case to their agenda and schedule oral arguments. If the court decides to hear any of these cases, it could potentially lead to a historic ruling which legalizes same-sex marriage nationwide.

Currently pending in front of the Court are a variety of cases which all essentially ask the court to address the question of whether or not gay marriage is legal. Specifically, some cases challenge Section 3 of the federal 1996 Defense of Marriage Act ("DOMA"), which defines marriage as "only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife," and defines spouse as "a person of the opposite sex who is husband and wife."

Section 3 of DOMA effectively denies same-sex married couples from receiving the same federal benefits that other married couples are entitled to, even in states where same-sex marriage is legal. For example, DOMA prevents same-sex married couples from filing join federal tax returns, collecting Social Security survivor benefits and including their spouse on medical and health insurance benefits. DOMA has already been challenged by same-sex couples in several states and has been struck down by two U.S. Appeals Courts.

The Supreme Court may also decide on Friday whether to hear an appeal challenging California's Proposition 8, a 2008 ballot initiative which banned gay marriage. This past February, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals invalidated Prop 8 in a narrow ruling only affecting California. The 9th Circuit held that a state could not take away the right to same-sex marriage after previously allowing it. Since this ruling by the 9th Circuit, gay marriage ceremonies have been put on hold in California.

It's unknown whether or not the Supreme Court will hear the appeal challenging Prop 8, as the Court could wait until they've first ruled on the constitutionality of DOMA. But if the court decides to deny the appeal and not hear the case, it could clear the way for gay marriage ceremonies to resume in California.

To date, nine states and Washington D.C. have allowed (or will soon allow) gay marriage. Three of these states — Maine, Maryland and Washington — voted to legalize gay marriage in the November elections. Still, a majority of states, 31 out of 50, have passed constitutional amendments or measures that directly or indirectly ban gay marriage.

Should the Supreme Court decide to hear any of the cases addressing the issue of gay marriage, it could issue a landmark decision that determines the future of same-sex marriage in this country.

11. Cameron and Mitchell, Modern Family

Cameron and Mitchell are the absolute cutest, whether they're revisiting Cam's clown past or bickering over Mitchell being uptight. Their relationship is both hilarious and realistic, and their sassy daughter Lily just completes it. They're everything.

ABC

10. Piper and Alex, Orange Is The New Black

You know it's love when you're constantly getting roped into various dramas involving heroin, jailtime and horrific eyebrows just to be together.

Netflix

9. Arizona and Callie, Grey's Anatomy

Arizona and Callie were cute on Grey's Anatomy, even rocking their own distinctly styled gorgeous dresses at their wedding. But it's Grey's Anatomy and it's been on TV for way too long, so of course they couldn't just stay together and be happy. How else can they continue any storylines at this point? (Seriously guys, pull the plug on this show. When people begin to miss or agree with Katherine Heigl, it's time to take it out to pasture.)

ABC

8. Kalinda and Lana, The Good Wife

Bisexual master manipulator Kalinda Sharma can pretty much have her way with anyone she wants on The Good Wife, and then she'll use them however she wishes. While her relationship with Cary Agos is the most tragically romantic of sorts, her chemistry with FBI agent Lana Delaney is the hottest of any couple ever on the series.

CBS

7. Kurt and Blaine ("Klaine"), Glee

I don't want to spend too much time on this because I have an irrational hatred for this stupid show, but know this: Kurt and Blaine's romance gave us Glee's spectacular cover of "Teenage Dream," and for that we should all be thankful (except Katy Perry, who should be ashamed, because, well, her version is awful in comparison).

FOX

6. Alex Kelly and Marissa Cooper, The OC

Bad girl Alex Kelly and sort-of-good-girl Marissa Cooper got together after pretending to be dating to get Alex's psycho ex-girlfriend away. They later moved into together before ultimately splitting. Also, their first kiss was partially responsible for a lot of millennial guys' crusty socks. Just saying.

FOX

5. Emily and Maya ("Emaya"), Pretty Little Liars

Bisexual Maya and lesbian Emily have gone through a lot: Maya got sent to rehab for pot (remember, it's an ABC Family show), Emily's parents weren't accepting of their sexuality ... then they finally confirmed their total and undying love for one another and, like David Fisher and Keith Charles, lived happily ever after until one of them ended up dead. Yikes.

ABC Family

4. David Fisher and Keith Charles, Six Feet Under

After a long on-again off-again romance, David Fisher and Keith Charles of Six Feet Under finally come to terms with their own identities as well as with their love for one another, get married and adopt two sons. They live happily ever after ... until Keith gets murdered, but hey, shit happens.

HBO

3. Tara Maclay and Willow Rosenberg, Buffy

When Willow revealed to Buffy that she had feelings for Tara, she avoided labeling herself and just said she was falling in love with her. As their relationship blossomed, so did Willow's magical powers. That's a pretty good incentive for romance.

IMDB

2. Chris Keller and Tobias Beecher, Oz

Before he was chasing pervs and perps on Law & Order: SVU, Christopher Meloni starred as an imprisoned psychopathic killer named Chris Keller on Oz. Keller planned to manipulate fellow (and much less harmful) convict Tobias Beecher, but actually ended up falling in love with him. Aw.

HBO

1. Aaron and Eric, The Walking Dead

Aaron and Eric will do anything for one another, and their relationship has a lot of romantic parallels with Glenn and Maggie's. The only real difference is that Aaron and Eric both pee standing up (and that Rick doesn't really trust them).

AMC

Cameron and Mitchell are the absolute cutest, whether they're revisiting Cam's clown past or bickering over Mitchell being uptight. Their relationship is both hilarious and realistic, and their sassy daughter Lily just completes it. They're everything.